Welcome to TipsterInfo.org!
Facilities Committee Meeting
The Facilities Committee will be meeting at 1pm, Friday, Sept. 19 at Cottonwood Creek park in Encinitas.
First Day of School Arrives!
Julian Charter School's Phoenix Learning Center held classes for the first time today at our temporary location in Encinitas. It was exciting to see old friends and welcome new ones, and we are all looking forward the adventures that this year will bring.
We still have openings in all grades, though some are nearly full. If you have questions about the program please call Cordelia at our new phone number: 760-703-9824.
Phase 1 Mon-Thur Schedule
Volunteers Needed for After-School Program
- Volunteers are needed for our after school program from 12:30-3:30, Monday through Thursday.
- Students will be in two groups: grades K-2 and grades 3-6.
- Students will eat lunch and either work in Study Hall for an hour, or choose from a variety of activities for an hour.
- There will be two parents with each group along with teacher support.
- We have a ton of resources for the “activity” portion of the program, and encourage parents’ ideas.
Please let the office know (760-703-9824) the days that will work best for your schedule.
We appreciate your time and support!
Facilities
Although the San Marcos facility is not ideal for many parents, at this point it is the best option available that will get us through the next school year. However, there is a lot of work being done to find a property that is more advantageous to a majority of parents. There are several other facilities being researched, some in Encinitas and some in Carlsbad, that while not ideal, may be preferable long-term situations.
We have finalized plans for our Phase 1 program, and are pleased to announce that we will be able to offer a four day, four hour a day program until the site in San Marcos is ready to occupy. Coastal Christian Center, at 777 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas, will be hosting us for the first phase of our new program. The location is convenient for Encinitas families, but we will be using a lot of creativity to make the program work for the short term--it is not an ideal site for long term use this year. We will have a place for our children to learn starting September 8th. Extended day care during Phase 1 will be available, for families who need it, until 3:30.
NOTE: Anyone with ideas for facilities should email the details to the Facilities Committee at facilities@tipsterinfo.org
First Assignment of the year: Name the School with No Name!
Have you ever named a pet hamster? How about the family car? Or maybe you’ve given someone a nickname. Naming something or someone is a difficult task. It takes a lot of time and thought, and may even involve some research. If you are up for the challenge of naming something BIG…something INCREDIBLE… something FABULOUS, then we need your help. The School With No Name is seeking clever young minds to create a name for an innovative school that is about to begin in North County this September.
Submit a suggestion for new school name along with one paragraph essay on why the name is a great name for the school. Younger students can have a parent write their ideas for them. You may also include a picture of the school with your suggested name.
Send your submissions to:
Julian Charter School
PO Box 691
Cardiff, CA 92007
Enrollment/Registration
I am a TIP parent, when should I enroll?
NOW. If you wish to secure a position for your child in any future program, you should call the Julian Charter School and enroll as soon as possible. Enrollment is now open to anyone, and positions will be filled on a first come first served basis. If former TIP parents do not contact JCS immediately, TIP children can not be assured a spot. Julian Charter has established a start date for the program of September 8, 2008.
To Enroll at Julian Charter School: call Christine Mueller at (866) 853-0003, ext. 101. Tell her you are coming from TIP. In addition to calling, you may email your children's names and grades to Christy Mueller at: cmueller@juliancharterschool.org, and be sure to mention you are coming from TIP.
Parent Information Night: August 6, 2008
As was reported at the previous TIP Board meeting, there is a another charter school in the area that is interested in having the TIP program become another offering of their school. It was also mentioned at that Board meeting, that finding an appropriate facility was the main impediment to going forward in this direction.
Presentation of JULIAN CHARTER SCHOOL
Tonight there was a presentation and discussion led by two administrators from the Julian Charter School (www.juliancharterschool.org) Jennifer Cauzza, the Executive Director, and Sue Miller-Hurst, the Director of the Julian Charter School - Innovation Centre. Both Jennifer Cauzza and Sue Miller-Hurst have an extensive background in education, and have been involved in charter schools in California for years. The JCS is in a district with a Board and Superintendent that appreciates what they are offering, and have a positive working relationship with the sponsoring authority. While this may be difficult to imagine for us TIP folks, one clear indication of this is that the Julian Charter School is listed right on the front page of the Julian District website, along with the other schools.
They think we have a very good program and came to talk to TIP parents and to offer for our consideration and discussion the possibility of moving the TIP program under the umbrella of the Julian Charter School. In such a scenario it would continue as is, with former TIP teachers, but as another program offered by the Julian Charter School. They would not impose and curriculum changes, and the TIP teachers would be free to continue to teach as they have been. Sue Miller-Hurst would most likely be the primary administrator for this program, and she made it clear that JCS would have no reason to change or modify a program that works, such as TIP's. After speaking at length on JCS Innovation Centere program she is currently Director of, it was very clear that her approach and philosophy could mesh very well with that of TIP.
You can read a lot about the Julian Charter School (JCS) on their website, but briefly, they operate more than 10 programs in San Diego, Riverside, and Orange counties. Their programs support the Independent Study and Home-school communities and serve K-12 grades. Some of the programs are 100% Home-school, where students and parents meet only periodically with teachers. Others are technically Independent Study, but are substantially classroom based, with credentialed teachers presenting curriculum in a program that is approximately 80% of school time. These "80% classroom" programs are typically implemented as a 4-day school program, with the 5th day, usually Friday, being the independent study component.
There was an extensive period of discussion and Q & A
Where would the school be? What are the facilities like?
LACK OF FACILITIES IS THE PRIMARY CHALLENGE AT THIS TIME. This is really the only existing impediment to starting with JCS on schedule for this fall. Along with all other funding needs, JCS pays for the cost of facilities from the ADA revenues form the state. JCS does not, however, have a facility that we can use, so it is up to the TIP community to find an appropriate facility, the cost of which is within the ability for JCS to pay.
What is the budget for a facility?
Depends. State law requires that not more than 20% of an Independent Study based charter school can be used for facilities and administrative costs combined. In addition Independent Study programs are not entitled to Prop 39, or other facilities moneys. So, what can be spent on a facility is primarily limited by the ADA of the students enrolled.
What if we can't find a Facility in time to start school?
Since JCS is an independent Study, non-classroom based charter, those interested in the long-term are encouraged to enroll in the 100% home-school option at JCS in the interim while facilities are found and prepared. This is THE ONLY WAY that TIP TEACHERS could be EMPLOYED until a facility is opened with the 4-day program. Since JCS gets funding for students enrolled in the home-school program, JCS can employ teachers. Since continuation of the TIP program depends on participation of the TIP teachers, we need to employ as many as possibly as soon as possible.
How would this Interim period of 100% Home-schooling work? What would it look like?
Completely up to what the parents and teachers work out. Since this mode there are NO classroom resources, only teacher resources, the parents in each class/grade could work out any arrangements they wanted. The teachers would be there to prepare materials and guide parents on the curriculum and projects to be covered. But the logistics and arrangements would be completely open to however it works for parents and teachers.
For example:
- one class/grade of parents could decide to cooperatively rent a room one or two days a week to have a classroom setting in which the teacher can cover certain material and/or meet with parents and students to review progress and discuss future work.
- Another class/grade of parents may be fine completely on their own, each meeting weekly with their teacher to review curriculum and progress.
- A third class/grade may be primarily parents that need something closer to a full time classroom setting. Those parents would have to arrange this with the teacher, and since it is not legal to hold classes in a priate home, they would have to locate a space to rent and have the classes.
EACH GROUP OF PARENTS ALONG WITH A TEACHER IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIND A WORKABLE ARRANGEMENT. It is not required that every parent in a class/grade take the same approach. For example, some of the 4th grade parents could be cooperatively using a rented space for some classroom time, while others make other arrangements with the same teacher on an individual basis.
Unfortunately the TIP Board can not facilitate the organization of these arrangements, and parents and teachers are going to have to work together to make this work until a facility is ready.
But nothing can happen until parents enroll their children at JCS in the Home-school program, because before this, there are NO teachers. The teachers are meeting in the next few days to strategize, and will contact parents for help soon.
How are back-office tasks handled and overseen?
JCS would take care of that. There is a staff of 12+ at the JCS main office to support back-office and administrative needs of al of the JCS programs.
What would moving to JCS mean as far as TIP appealing the revocation?
The two are not directly related. The appeals process in potentially several months long, too long to wait for an outcome. TIP parents and teachers who want to continue to participate in a TIP-like program have to find another way to do that, now (or very son). This is very possibly a way to do this. Taking advantage of the opportunity presented by JCS does not mean the TIP Board cannot continue with the appeals process.
NONE. We would be functioning under the JCS charter, held by Julian Union School District. this is true regardless of the location of the school.
Could this program expand to grades 7 & 8?
YES, if there is enough demand, and appropriately trained staff available. However, it would not be available for the 2008-09 school year.
How would the program be funded?
From the State, based upon ADA. However, the calculation of ADA for Independent Study programs are NOT based on attendance, it is based upon work completed. Simply put, the school gets the ADA amount for students who complete at least 80% of the work that is expected to be completed in a given week. On important consequence of this is that the school cannot afford to have students (and parents) who are not completing the appropriate amount of work.
Can other (non-TIP) students apply to the program, and will TIP students have priority?
Yes and Yes. Although, TIP students will have priority based upon the fact that they will know about the school opening before anyone else, and can have their applications submitted before anyone else, non-TIP, can do so. It would be first come, first served, until capacity is reached. IF classes have waiting lists, then as spots open up, a lottery will be held to fill them if there are more people than spots available.
What happens to the TIP Board of Directors?
There will be no TIP Board of Directors. The TIP Board's only remaining work is to close TIP Academy. If the TIP teachers and students accept the offer of Julian Charter School to allow the TIP program to continue under their charter, the governing Board is the JCS Board.
Can we use TIP supplies and equipment, like computers, etc.?
Based upon the MOU with EUSD, NO. All assets and liabilities revert to the district upon revocation of the charter. However, the TIP Board is looking into whether it would be possible to sell, for example to JCS, much of the remaining supplies and equipment currently belonging to TIP.